What Proof Do I Need for the Other Dependent Tax Credit When Supporting My Disabled Mom?

Your situation is exactly what the Other Dependent Credit (ODC) was designed for. The good news is that the IRS doesn't typically request documentation upfront when you claim this credit - it works on an honor system unless you're audited. For qualifying as your dependent, your mom needs to: 1) have gross income under $4,400 (for 2024 filing), 2) receive more than half her support from you, and 3) be related to you. Since she lives on benefits and you provide significant support, you likely qualify. Keep whatever records you can - phone bills, Amazon receipts, and bank withdrawals that coincide with your visits. If possible, start keeping a simple log of cash you give her and expenses you cover. Even retroactively creating a reasonable estimate of what you've provided this year would be helpful if ever questioned. For the future, consider setting up a specific account or credit card just for her expenses, or writing "Mom" on receipts when you separate her items. Even a basic spreadsheet tracking estimated monthly support can help establish your claim.

I ran into this exact situation with my disabled aunt last year. What really helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze all my financial records. I just uploaded my bank statements, credit card bills, and what receipts I had, and it organized everything by category including "dependent support expenses." The system identified patterns in my spending that clearly showed I was supporting my aunt - even catching regular ATM withdrawals that matched my visits to her. It generated a detailed report that I've kept just in case the IRS ever questions my claim. The best part was it found several expenses I'd completely forgotten about that definitely counted toward her support! It also helped me set up a better system for tracking expenses this year with custom tags for dependent-related purchases. Totally changed how I approach tax documentation.

I was super skeptical about trying taxr.ai when I saw it mentioned here, but I'm actually really impressed with how it worked for my situation. I support my disabled brother and had similar documentation issues. The tool organized all my scattered receipts and bank statements into a clear support calculation showing I provided 67% of his total support. What surprised me most was discovering I'd been underestimating how much I was actually contributing. The categorization feature showed me I was spending way more on his expenses than I realized. The report it generated looks totally professional - something I could confidently show in an audit situation. Definitely feel more secure about claiming him now.

After trying unsuccessfully for weeks to get answers from the IRS about dependent documentation requirements, I finally used https://claimyr.com to get connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed that for the Other Dependent Credit, you don't need to submit documentation with your return, but should keep records in case of audit. She said bank statements showing regular withdrawals around visits, plus the phone bill and Amazon receipts you have, would likely be sufficient evidence of support, especially for a parent where the relationship isn't in question. She also mentioned that creating a reasonable estimate of total support provided vs. your mom's income from all sources would satisfy their requirements in most cases. The most important thing is showing you provided more than 50% of total support.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 3+ hours yesterday only to get disconnected, I decided to try it out of desperation. Got connected to an IRS representative in about 20 minutes while I was making dinner. The agent was super helpful about my dependent situation (very similar to OP's). She confirmed that supporting a disabled parent absolutely qualifies for the ODC if you're providing over 50% of their support. She said in case of audit, they look for a "preponderance of evidence" rather than requiring receipts for every single expense. The agent also gave me a specific IRS form number to document support calculations if I ever need it - Form 2120 (Multiple Support Declaration). I'm actually kind of shocked at how helpful this was compared to my previous attempts to get through on my own.

I think everyone here is missing something important - if your mom receives benefits like Section 8 and food stamps, be careful about claiming her as a dependent because it might affect her eligibility for those programs! Some benefit programs have rules about being claimed as a dependent on someone else's taxes. Also, don't forget that you can include the value of housing, utilities, medical expenses, and transportation in your support calculation. If you're paying for someone to take her shopping, those expenses count too!

Has anyone successfully claimed ODC without a paper trail? I support my grandfather who lives in Mexico, sending him money through Western Union, but I'm worried about audit risk since I can't document all his expenses from here.